McDyess had a career-high 46 points and 19 rebounds, while
Billups overcame a sore left ankle to hit two clutch 3-pointers
in the final 50 seconds as the Denver Nuggets blew a 16-point
fourth-quarter lead and defeated the Vancouver Grizzlies,
116-112.

The 6-9 McDyess ran roughshod on the Grizzlies' frontcourt,
tallying 20 points in the first quarter. After scoring a
combined 12 points in the middle periods, McDyess netted another
14 in the first 6:50 of the fourth quarter but did not score in
the final 5:10.

Billups, who has been playing with a sore left ankle, saved the
Nuggets after a 3-pointer by Pete Chilcutt pulled Vancouver even
at 110-110 with 1:13 to play. As the shot clock wound down, Nick
Van Exel penetrated into the lane before finding Billups on the
right wing for the 3-pointer that snapped the tie with 50
seconds to go.

After a dunk by Tony Massenburg made it 113-112, it was Billups
answering again, hitting from almost the exact same point with
8.9 seconds to play. He rolled his left ankle on the follow
through and had to be helped off the court after the Grizzlies
called timeout.

"I've twisted my ankles ever since high school and this was my
good ankle," said Billups, who finished with 12 points. "I
wasn't surprised I hit those last two threes, I take big shots
and make big shots. I wasn't looking to score early because
McDyess was rolling."

The 46 points matched the NBA's season high this year,
established by Detroit's Grant Hill and matched by
Philadelphia's Allen Iverson. It was the most points by a
Nuggets player since Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf scored 51 points against
Utah on December 7, 1995.

Denver has won four straight home games and improved to 5-9
overall. The Nuggets, who did not win their fifth game last
season until their 47th game, are enjoying their longest winning
streak since winning 10 in a row at McNichols Arena from January
13-February 13, 1993.

Massenburg scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter for
the Grizzlies, who trailed 98-82 with nine minutes to play
before their furious comeback. Vancouver has lost three straight
games and six of its last seven.

"Not much you can do to stop a guy when he's on a roll,"
admitted Massenburg about McDyess. "Trying to make him play
defense is the best way I know. He played a phenomenal game."

Despite McDyess' offensive outburst in the first half, the
Grizzlies continued to battle and were within 72-70 after
Massenburg made a free throw with 5:07 left in the third
quarter. But reserve guard Eric Washington scored 10 points in
a 2:53 span, hitting three 3-pointers as Denver opened an 88-78
lead entering the fourth quarter.

"I was wide open because they were double-teaming Antonio," said
Washington, who was 3-of-3 from 3-point range. "I'm paid to hit
the open shot and that's what I did. It wasn't difficult
because it was a team effort. I got a lot of help from our
guards. I'll do whatever it takes to win."

McDyess scored six points in an 8-2 burst, capped by his
baseline lay-in at the nine-minute mark, providing the 98-82
lead and his career high with points 37 and 38. His final
points came on a three-point play with 5:10 remaining as Denver
held a 106-96 lead.

It did not matter who guarded McDyess as he would often
establish position on the left side, square himself to the
basket and often drive the baseline around Grizzlies center
Bryant Reeves or sweep into the lane. He went 16-of-24 from the
field and 13-of-17 from the foul line.

"Nick carried the team a few games ago, tonight was my turn to
carry the team," said McDyess. "I wasn't even feeling it, my
outside shots weren't even falling, it was all layups and dunks,
and I give a lot of our credit to our point guards."

"Before the game, Nick told me I should score 40. I said I'd
score 30, but I was just fooling. Afterwards, Nick said I
overdid myself going for 46."

But the Nuggets were lethargic on defense and Vancouver took
full advantage. Massenburg and rookie Felipe Lopez each made a
free throw before Chilcutt hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to
106-101 with 4:12 to play. Van Exel had a driving layup and
Washington sank two free throws to rebuild Denver's lead to
nine, but Massenburg and Shareef Abdur-Rahim converted
three-point plays to make it 110-107 with 2:37 to go.

The teams traded empty possessions before Chilcutt's game-tying
shot from beyond the arc.

Denver shot 49 percent (38-of-77) from the field and hit 9-of-19
from 3-point range. Van Exel had 12 assists and Danny Fortson
had 10 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out.

Abdur-Rahim finished with 18 points but made only 5-of-15 from
the field. The Grizzlies shot 53 percent (42-of-79) from the
field but missed 13 free throws, six by Massenburg.

Already playing without injured rookie forward Raef LaFrentz,
the Nuggets lost guard Bryant Stith in the second quarter to an
ankle injury. He rolled his ankle after hitting a 3-pointer and
was unable to return.